Missa Cantata for St Peter and St Paul

Just a reminder that the weekly 9.30am Mass at the Birmingham Oratory tomorrow will be a Missa Cantata for the Feast of St Peter and St Paul.

First Monday Redditch Mass - One-off Change for July

Earlier this year, in his last act on this blog, Dr Matthew Doyle advertised a Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Redditch, which normally takes place on the first Monday of the month. Due to Fr George's commitments, the next Mass will take place on the second Monday of the month, 8th July 2013, as a one-off.


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Around a dozen or so people are turning up to this Mass at the moment, which is good but could be better. We do not have a Monday Mass in the Birmingham area so perhaps if you live in South Birmingham (or further!) you would consider supporting it.

Annuntio Vobis Gaudium Magnum: Habemus...

It has been just over a month since I was appointed the Latin Mass Society Representative for Birmingham and the Black Country but I have had so many events to post about I have not had time to properly introduce myself. Cardinal Tauran, who famously announced Pope Francis' election to the Papacy, was in Birmingham on Saturday as part of his duties as President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and so I thought it might be an appropriate time to reveal who I am, especially as I introduced myself in my new capacity to the Archbishop of Birmingham outside St Chad's Cathedral after a special Vespers for the occasion on Sunday (the occasion of course being the visit of Cardinal Tauran and not my appointment as Birmingham LMS rep):

Archbishop Bernard Longley and I (right)

His Grace and I were honoured to be in the presence of Radley Russell (centre left) who you may know from his roles in such BBC dramas as White Van Man and Doctors, not to mention his appearances as an extra in such acclaimed American series such as Desperate Housewives and The Wire. He also greeted the Pope Emeritus on behalf of the students of Newman University College at Cofton Park a few years ago, but managed to take time out of his busy schedule to be pictured with us.

Cardinal Tauran was reported to be unimpressed at my appointment.

"What do you mean they have appointed that idiot Louis as Birmingham LMS Representative? I must inform the Holy Father at once!"

The pictures are courtesy of Marcin Mazur, photographer to the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. If you meet him, can you remind him that he still owes Radley some photos from the Papal Visit.

I still plan to write to local members to introduce myself and the new Assistant Representative in the next couple of weeks.

New Gregorian Chant Group in Stourbridge

As mentioned in the last post, a new Gregorian Chant group will be starting at Our Lady and All Saints Church in Stourbridge on Wednesday 19th June at 7.30pm (please note that the time and date has changed since it was originally advertised).

It will start from the very beginning with the Missa de Angelis, Credo 3 and Pater Noster, designed with young adults who have not had much exposure to this kind of music before in mind (although anyone of any age and ability is welcome to join). The initial plan is for the group to perform at St Chad's Cathedral's 2nd Friday Masses (OF) for young adults, so called because they take place on the 2nd Friday of each month (there is one this Friday 14th June) and hopefully, if the opportunity arises, selected EF Masses in the future.

Two Ways to Learn Gregorian Chant

Have you been inspired by Father Z's recent blogpost, Gregorian Chant Will Save the World? Here are two ways you can learn:

1. A new chant group will begin on Wednesday 19th June 7.30pm at Our Lady and All Saints Church in Stourbridge. Frank Fahey, a very gifted organist and choir master, will be the instructor. It will start from the very beginning with young adults who have not had much exposure to this kind of music in mind, although anyone of any age and ability can join, by learning the Missa de Angelis, Credo 3 and Pater Noster.

2. The LMS, in conjunction with the St Catherine's Trust, organise a Gregorian Chant Course that takes place over the same weekend as the St Catherine's Trust Family Retreat. They have produced a video to advertise the course if you want to have a look at what goes on:


One Weekend in April, Part Two: The Gregorian Chant Network Weekend Course from LMS on Vimeo.

Corpus Christi Sunday in Spetchley

I was not able to make the Corpus Christi Mass at the Birmingham Oratory on the traditional Thursday date, so I went to neighbouring Worcestershire to celebrate Corpus Christi with a Latin Mass and outdoor procession. The weather was glorious!

The Catholic Chapel of St John the Baptist is actually inside Spetchley House and is linked to the parish of St George's in Worcester.

There was a brief procession to the neighbouring disused medieval church.

The disused medieval Anglican Church is currently cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust. Maintaining a church like this can be prohibitively expensive, but would it not be wonderful if the Catholic Church could take it over again?

We ended with a brief period of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction, followed for some by a picnic in the beautiful grounds of Spetchley Park.

Update 09/06/2013: Fr Anthony Talbot's sermon at the Mass is now available here: